Annika's Seventh Birthday

Happy 02/02/2020/Groundhogs Days/Superbowl Sunday!  Out of all of these, I think the palindrome date is the coolest.  But I want to blog about something even more special--Annika's seventh birthday!

As the baby of the family, Annika's birthdays are bittersweet for me.  I rather wish she would stop growing and stay my little girl a little longer.  Alas, despite my repeated requests, she has informed me that she can't.  In fact, she even explained how she has to grow up so that someday she can have her own babies.  Hello, grandma.

We often celebrate Annika's birthday with overnight baked french toast in honor of the breakfast we enjoyed on the day she was born.

Then it was off to school.  Innie loves her first grade class and her amazing teacher, Ms. Blank.

Annika's class made her the cutest cards filled with pictures of the things she loves best.

This year was a "family party" year for Annika, so we came home and started preparing for the celebration.  Annika had requested a Chinese New Year theme, so we made homemade ramen and fortune cookies.

When I asked Annika what would make her birthday special, she said, "Playing with Ruby."  Guess it was a very special day!

"Heavy heavy hangover, thy poor head. What do you wish with a bump on your head?"  Does anyone else find this ritual strange?  Having not grown up with it, it still strikes me as quite odd. I tried to google it to learn more of the origin, but all I can figure out is that it's kind of a Utah thing. 

Hmm...whatever could be in this interesting package?

Annika's tights may offer a clue.

A hermit crab!  Two actually.  For months (years?), Annika has been begging for a pet (See exhibits A &B.)

"Can we have chameleon?  We would never find it because it would be camouflaged.  Love, Annika"

"Get a lizard, Mom and Dad.  I will catch the food.  Love, Annika."

While she would have preferred a lizard, these hermit crabs were about the lowest maintenance creatures we could come up with.  We've named this big one Tamatoa and the little one Sebastian.

Annika is delighted.  Yesterday we went skiing and she told everyone on the ski lifts all about her new pets.

After presents, it was time for cake.

May all your dreams come true, sweetheart.

Unfortunately, here's where the happy wishes end.  Immediately after cutting the cake, Annika turned ghostly white and said that her stomach hurt, leaving her cake completely untouched.  We bade Ruby a quick farewell, then Annika threw up all over the stairs.  What a bummer of a way to celebrate your seventh birthday.  At least the sickness held off until after her party.

Beautiful Annika, you are creative, inquisitive, perceptive, and above all, happy.  You fill our house with fun artwork and fun creature facts.  But most of all, you fill our home with smiles and snuggles.  Our family wouldn't be complete without you.  We love you so much, Cheesestick!  May seven be a year of learning and adventure.